"Eh?" Brenton sounded with his brows raised. He was not sure if he had heard correctly.
"We haven't properly thanked you, yet," Estan added when he saw the rho's confusion.
A smile came to Syri's lips when he caught on to the gamma's direction. "Inso is right. We haven't thanked you for saving us."
"Oh, uh, don't worry about it," Brenton said shyly as he lowered his head.
"We insist," Estan persisted as he set the coins for the duck on the stand's counter.
Brenton looked from the money to the gamma before letting out a breath and sliding the coins back to Estan. "Let's call it even, then."
Estan smiled at the rho before nodding his head. "Very well. Syri and I will head back and prepare dinner while you close up shop, and we will see you later," the gamma stated before the three said their goodbyes and parted ways.
The rho let out a short breath as he watched the two leave before beginning to close his stand for the day. The sun was well on its decline, but there was still a good hour of light in the sky by the time Brenton started toward the cabin in the woods. The rho could not stop his heart from skipping as he made his way out of the small village and down the road that led to Estan and Syri's humble abode.
A small trail of smoke was floating out the top of the chimney when Brenton broke into the grove. The rho knocked on the door which was opened a few moments later, revealing a flour-covered Estan. Brenton stifled a laugh as he saw the gamma. But, surprisingly, Estan did not seem frazzled or exhausted by any means. The gamma was happy and relaxed.
"You made it!" Estan smiled at the rho in greeting as he invited the man to enter the cabin. But as Brenton was taking off his shoes, as was custom when entering a house as to not track dirt throughout the home, Estan clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Oh! Syri is resting on the hill just past the river. Would you mind going and getting him? Dinner is almost ready."
"Of course," Brenton replied while slipping his shoes back on.
"Thank you. If you follow the path that leads over the bridge and into the trees, it will lead you to the hill," Estan explained to the rho, who nodded his head in understanding. The rho bowed respectfully before exiting through the cabin door and making his way to the bridge. Brenton swiveled his head and looked at the clear river cutting through the grove as he walked over the bridge and entered the woods once again.
It was not long, however, until the trees broke onto a massive hill where the rho spotted a small figure standing next to two horses. Brenton could not help the smile that covered his face as he gazed at the zeta laughing happily beneath the golden sunlight. The sun had just reached the horizon when the rho began walking to the peak of the hill. A warm breeze swept past him and ruffled Syri's pink hair that seemed to glow beneath the setting sun. The zeta was wearing a loose blouse that flowed as the wind rippled through it.
The rho was starstruck by the zeta's beauty and could not help the awe-struck expression that covered his face as he approached the small male.
"Oh? Brenton," Syri smiled at the rho as he spotted the man walking up to him.
'Who is he?' The white steed inquired as Brenton came to stand next to Syri.
'A friend. He saved Estan and I from a group of traffickers.' Syri replied. Through his most recent interaction with the two horses, Syri realized he could communicate with them telepathically and not just verbally. And he was putting it to good use as of now.
'Are you sure he is just a friend?' Dyren inquired as he recognized the expression on the rho's face.
'Mm. Positive. Why?' Syri asked innocently. The zeta did not know any reason why the rho would not be a friend.
Before Dyren could respond, Brenton inquired, "Are they your friends?"
"Mm," Syri sounded in response. "This is Dyren and Geneth," the zeta introduced as he pointed to the white and copper steeds.
"Nice to meet you, Dyren, Geneth. I'm Brenton," the rho waved to the two horses in greeting.
'He is polite. I like him.' Geneth commented on the rho's greeting.
'We all know it's a 'no' though.' Dyren replied to Geneth's comment matter-of-factly.
'Why?' Geneth inquired.
'You know why.' Dyren answered as Brenton reached out and stroked Geneth's mane.
"Do you ride them?" Brenton inquired as he brought his hand to the copper horse's nuzzle.
Sryi shook his head. "I don't know how to ride. I've only gone riding once, and it was with...someone." Syri caught himself as he nearly voiced the prince's name and found his thoughts trailing back to the day he and Jae went riding. Blush filled Syri's cheeks as he recalled how Jae's strong arms felt as the prince kept him secure on Ajax.
Brenton saw the flush in Syri's cheeks and wondered who this 'someone' was. "Is he the one who rescued you?"
The zeta looked up at the rho in surprise. "H-how did you know?"
"Oh, uh, the night we first came to the cabin, you were in pain. And Estan said the only one who could help you was the one who saved you," Brenton quickly explained when he realized it was strange for him to know this piece of information.
"Oh..." Syri hung his head and looked at the ground as he realized Brenton saw him when Jisue was tormenting him. "What else did Estan tell you?" Syri inquired as he brought his head back up.
"He said your 'someone' was in a whole other world, and that he was doing everything he could to stop whoever was causing you pain."
A small smile came to Syri's lips as he heard Brenton's words. An ache entered the zeta's chest as he longed for the prince. He missed Jae's musky scent and comforting voice. The zeta found himself getting lost in his memories with the prince until Brenton's voice pulled Syri from his thoughts, "Would you like to learn how to ride?"
The zeta's heart bounced when he heard the rho's offer. He had always wanted to learn how to ride, and if he learned now, he could go riding with Jae when he returned to the castle. The zeta nodded his head with excitement as he asked for permission from Dyren and Geneth. 'Is it alright with you?'
'It is fine with us. Have fun, Little Zeta.' Dyren responded kindly.
With Dyren and Geneth's permission, Syri turned to face the rho and bowed. "I would greatly appreciate it if you would teach me how to ride!" The zeta exclaimed as he continued to bow in hopes of the rho accepting him as his student.
"I would love to," Brenton replied with a smile as he brought the zeta out of his bow. "But, let's start tomorrow. Estan said dinner is ready."
Syri's face lit up, and he smiled brightly as he began following the rho back to the cabin. The zeta giggled to himself as the two meandered through the trees and over the bridge. 'I am going to learn how to ride!'